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I have another noob question, just bought the pedal yesterday. I cannot for the life of me figure out how to use the looper. I've tried watching 15+ videos on youtube to no avail. I can't even just simply record something and hear it play back. How do I use this thing??? I'm trying to get the chords for Pink Floyd - Time so I can lay the solo over it. thanks for the help!

The Looper operates on simple start/stop signals from the footswitches. It has no sense of tempo, bars, or any musical structure.

You engage Looper mode by pressing the Looper footswitch. Start playing a chord progression (it is not yet being recorded). When the chord progression you want to record 'comes around' to the start of the progression, hit the REC/OVRERDUB footswitch on the start beat of the progression. The looper, of course, knows nothing about the start of a beat - it simpy starts recording. When you hit the end of the chord progression, hit the REC/OVRERDUB switch, or the PLAY/STOP switch. In both cases the recorded piece will immediately start playing back. If you want to immediately overdub a new part onto the first part you would hit the REC/OVERDUB switch. If you just want the playback without recording what you are going to play next, hit the PLAY/STOP switch. Anytime you want to overdub, hit the REC/OVRERDUB switch while the loop is playing back. If/when you hit the REC/OVRERDUB switch while the loop is NOT playing back, then you start a new loop recording.

The recorded 'loop' will be saved in the HD500 memory until you replace it with a new recording, engage the tuner, or turn off the HD500.

That's the basic operation. You can adjust the recording time from 24 seconds (default) to 48 seconds by hitting the 1/2 SPEED footswitch.

With the Looper in PRE position, it records the dry (unprocessed) signal from the input. With the Looper in POST position, it records the processed signal. On playback, the recorded loop is either processed by the current preset (if it was recorded in PRE mode) or not (if it was recorded in POST mode. The former (PRE mode) is often used to test out and tweak different sounds/presets on a dry recording. In this case you are auditioning sounds without having to play the part again. The latter (POST mode) is often used to overdub or play new sounds on top of pre-recorded processed sounds. This is how you would be using it to play a lead solo over the chord progression.

So, to do what you want:

- select the preset for the backing chords

- engage the Looper. Put it in POST mode. Select Full/Half speed depending on the duration of your chord progression

- start playing your chord progression. When you are comfortable with the flow of it, hit the REC/OCERDUB switch at the start of the beat/progression

- hit the PLAY/STOP switch at the end of the progression

Now the recorded loop begins playback. If you want to change presets to play the lead solo, hit the Looper switch again to disengage it. Select your new preset. While you are doing this the recorded loop continues playback. Now:

- simply play/practice your lead solo over the loop. If you don't want to record the solo - you're done.

If/when you want to record your solo on top of the loop:

- hit the Looper switch to re-engage the Looper

- while the loop is playing, hit the REC/OVERDUB switch at the beginning of the loop and play your solo.

- hit the PLAY/STOP switch when finished.

The two-part loop will begin playback. Continue to play/overdub parts as you wish. Note that if the loop was not in playback mode when you hit the REC/OVERDUB switch, the previous recording will be replaced by a new one.

Wonder if you can help me. I have an HD500 and a JTV plugged into the Variax socket. I've been playing with the Looper but I can't seem to access the Looper Options. I press the View button to display the Signal Flow View but when I engage the Looper nothing changes. I don't see the displays for the Playback, Overdub or Hi & Lo Cut functions. Pressing View again just cycles through Performance View and Big User View and back to Signal Flow View. I also tried changing the Looper FS Display from All Views to Performance View but that didn't seem to do much. (Firmware update v1.4)

Ah! Brilliant! Thanks very much. The wording in the manual makes more sense now (but it's not as clear as your explanation). Where it said "...select the Looper" I was pressing the Looper button. Thanks Silverhead.

Hi Silverhead thanks for the above explanation.The problem I'm encountering is after I record a dry basic sounding guitar progression I wish to play a solo with effects on it but when I change the preset to the sound that I want the solo guitar to sound like the dry sounding guitar also takes on that sound also.What am i doing wrong here? -:)

It's for changing patches and controlling parameter values for amps and FX. You can also control the Looper settings (on/off, Rec/Overdub, start/stop etc.) using midi. But since the Looper has no concept of tempo you cannot assign it a tempo using midi. Some midi control features are not yet present but have been announced for the V2.0 firmware due by the end of this month.

I have a question about dual signals and the looper, I hope you or someone can help. Here's the scenario...

I want to run a Schecter Solo Custom 6 e/a guitar that has a Fishman piezo Powerbridge through the HD500. I want to run the piezo output through one tone path and the magnetic pickup output through the other tone path. I want the signals to run out from the HD500 to 2 separate lines of a PA. Will the looper work with either tone signal independently? Do I have to do something on the fly if I only want to loop one of the 2 tone signals at a time? Can I still run the signals separately to each line of the PA after looping and have them stay separate? I want acoustic loops only to run through the acoustic signal path and magnetic through magnetic signal path. Is this possible?? Thanks

hello sir i have a problem with my hd500 pedal.when i broght it then it workes fine.after updating the flash memory by lin 6 monkey i faced the pedal problem.it did'nt working(volum control).after golbal rest and pedal calebiration it's stay same.then 1 keep the pod 24hr rest.then i again run that padle caliberation then it sucessful(means then i can see 0-255 when i up-down the pedal).it workes fine for 1 month till now i smply clean the body of pod knob etc.after that when i powered the pod it showing me same problem.pedal volume can't be controled by padel.i try to calebarte it but same problem arrise.i press the right arrow and powered the pod.then it shows me the option.padel cal selected.i press view botten.then at hell possition i press A fs,it shows 100 then at toe prsition i press B fs then it shows 100 then after when i press C fs it shows 0.when i up-down the pedal it doens't goes to 255.what i do now

I need to use looping and FX switching without having to hop back and forth between Looper mode and "normal" mode. That's just not usable for live performance, as it requires too much time and thought. This morning I started playing around with using the flexible MIDI assignments in the pedal to assign looper MID controls to the bottom row of switches, using the upper row of switches for FX as usual. Its a useable though limited workaround. Heres what I did:

1. Use a MIDI cable to connect your HD500 MIDI In to MIDI Out, with channels assigned identically. (If you need other MIDI stuff, use an external MIDI box and route accordingly.)

2. Make sure you are using "PedalBoard Mode" so you are using FS1 - FS8 switches.

3. Set up your FS1 and FS4 foot switches any expression pedal(s) to any FX or amps, as usual.

4. Use MIDI Assign to assign the following MIDI controllers: (be sure to use correct MIDI channels):

RECORD LOOP: Foot switch FS5, CC message, CC#60, Value 127

PLAY/STOP LOOP: Foot switch FS6, CC Toggle message, CC#61, Value 00

OVERDUB: Foot switch FS7, CC message, CC#60, Value 00

UNDO: Foot switch FS8, CC message, CC#63, Value 127

You may want different assigns or configurations. Use what works best for how you perform.

5. Assign some "dummy" FX to FS5 - FS8 so that your lower bank of switch LEDs toggle on and off for your looper switches. I use Noise Gates with the controls turned off, so the guitar signal is unaffected but the lights turn on and off so I can see what is activated for the loop switches. (There may be a better way to do this, but I haven't used the pedal enough to know.)

With this setup, I use the upper row of FS switches and pedal to turn my FX and amps on and off. The lower buttons control my looping. This is the way I loop for live performance:

Tap FS5 to record a loop, then FS6 to "close it" and play it. Tap FS6 to toggle Play/Stop.

After a loop is recorded and playing, FS5 has no effect. It only records a new loop if Stopped. (It would be nice if this thing would let you use Rec/Overdub toggle intuitively, but so far thats not working out for me).

Use FS7 to turn loop Overdubs on and off, as often as needed.

Use FS8 to turn your last recorded Overdub on and off, as needed.

I may tweak this some more, but this is what I just tested, and its working out pretty good for my needs. The loops are clean and tight enough for live performance as long as your timing is decent. Yeah, its not like a full-blown dedicated loop pedal (I own a Boomerang III), but I don't want to take up any more floor real estate than I have to, and if this setup will get my basic looping done, I'm basically good. There are still big issues with how the looper switch LEDs relate to what is going on.

LINE 6 GUYS: this is an OK workaround, but far from a great one. You have a fantastic and flexible FX/amp sim pedal with the HD500, and a decent looper for live performance looping. Why not work on the firmware to come up with a better out-of-the-box solution for live performance looping + FX switching? Really, this box has all the internal bells and whistles and chipset to do it, it would just require some software modifications, right??!! As any hardware guy knows, software is easy C'mon. Pretty please??

UPDATE: Ideally I would like to be able to program footswitch functionality just like the Looper mode uses. In Looper mode, the REC/OVERDUB and PLAY/STOP buttons are interactive, via internal software logic. In other words, each switch interacts with the other to enable more intelligence in the looping. For example, After you start a REC, tapping the same switch again closes the loop and starts OVERDUB mode. In addition, the LEDs do useful stuff. For example, the REC button blinks when OVERDUB is active. And the PLAY/STOP switch LED tells you what is currently active, etc.

BUT....if I try to use MIDI CC#s to program the buttons, I can't access this cool, internal logic. So, my workaround involves having to use a separate OVERDUB switch, assign LEDS., etc. Even then, I haven't been able to configure LEDs to tell me what is happening with any accuracy.

If Line 6 would simply allow us to assign this interactive logic to switches, all would be WONDERFUL.

I am getting unreliable results for the above looper workaround when direct connecting the HD500 MIDI_out to MIDI_in with a single cable. Not sure why, or even if this is kosher. I am getting good results using an external MIDI interface, though. Anyone else tried this? [READ LATER POSTS BELOW REGARDING MIDI GROUND]

Regarding the LEDs on FS5 - FS7 for visual feedback, with the above setup.

FS5: since this button always sends a REC LOOP command, the LED just lets you know you tapped the button to initiate Recording when the LED changes state. It doesn't tell you anything else (like if it is recording or overdubbing). Only records when in Stop mode.

FS6: if lit, you are playing a loop. Tapping FS5 will have no further effect. If LED is not lit, you are in Stop mode, and ready to Record a fresh loop.

FS7: when playing a loop, tapping FS7 and lighting the LED means you are in Overdub mode. Tap again to quit Overdub.

FS8. after recording an overdub, tap to undo/redo the last overdub record.

It would be REALLY nice if Line 6 could allow a switch assignment so that FS1 (Undo), FS5 (Rec/Overdub), and FS6 (Play/Stop) could coexist as Loop functions, along with FS3, FS4, FS7, and FS8 as FX or Amp footswitches. This would require firmware support to provide the needed interaction logic of the Rec/Overdub and Play/Stop switches as provided in Looper Mode. This would provide the essential looper functionality for live performance, without having to toggle back and forth between modes using the Looper switch.

Thanks, silverhead. Glad its not just me (MIDI in <-> MIDI out). The setup is still working nicely here with an external MIDI router/splitter. Or you can use any old MIDI device that has In/Out/Thru, especially if you don't want to be tied down to a USB interface and computer.

I am just finding out that the HD500 Looper is NOT flexible with regards to signal routing. For example, because I use Path A for guitar and Path B for vocal and sax in my current setup, I am REALLY missing the ability to do some switchable routing through the Looper. Usually I just loop the guitar, and don't want my vocal in the loop! Even the abiliity to move the Looper in the FX chain (not just pre or post) would be very useful.

Thanks soundog. I really appreciate your work on finding ways to make the looper more useable in a live gig. I would love to see the feature you have suggested re: FX top row and Looper controls bottom row. Have you submitted that as a formal feature request?

I'm not optimistic that it will come anytime soon, given that we've just received the latest update, but no harm in asking.

Meanwhile - I'm still not having much luck without an external midi interface, and having to drag one along kind of defeats the purpose - I might as well drag along an external looper and get much more capability.

silverhead .... yes, I did send a request to Line 6 via their feedback form. I hope you and other loopers do the same. Squeaky wheel gets the grease.

For me, floor space is always at a premium, and if I can get by with out a dedicated looper, so much the better. My Boomerang III + the HD500 require an extra room! You can get tiny midi router boxes that don't require USB/computer. I have tested an old "MidiSport 2X2" with the HD500 and it works great. Its tiny, and MIDI bus powered. You just have to set the mode switch to "MIDI Thru" and not "USB." They go for about $20 on Ebay.

I really do hope Line 6 continues to enhance the functionality of the looper in the HD500. It has the essential features, fast footswitch response with tactile and LED visual feedback, great sound fidelity, overdub, undo, etc. It just needs some more love from the firmware/software team. I remain hopeful they will add more feature support, and in the meantime will continue to hack away.

After thinking that ground noise/interference on MIDI in/out when direct-connecting a MIDI cable on the HD500, I tried clipping the ground pin on the IN side of a spare MIDI cable. You can do this by using needle nose pliers, and wiggle the center (top) pin, on one end of the cable, back and forth until it snaps from stress. After surgery, a direct connect of the MIDI in to MIDI out seems to resolve the unreliable results. To be sure, I even clipped the unused lower pins (4 and 5), but I'm pretty sure removing the ground pin on one side of the cable was the fix. Be sure not to bend your other (data) cable pins; you wanna be able to insert the cable without force.

Upcoming experiment: I have ordered a MIDI solutions "Event Processor" to customize MIDI to try and achieve the following:

1) duplicate the HD500's internal logic so that a single Rec/Overdub (MIDI CC Toggle on FS5) will work just like Looper Mode. As it is now, logic is wacky and non-intuitive if you try to simply use REC/OVERDUB CC toggle for FS5, and PLAY/STOP CC toggle for FS6. I am hoping to find a way to send the right CC commands so that I can save having to use FS7 for Overdubs, and FS6 for Record only (CC, not toggle). If Line6 would give us access to this logic in the software, this wouldn't be a hurdle. (Also, please give us a blinking light when we are overdubbing, Line 6. The goal would simple be to enable the user to replicate Looper mode functionality for chosen switches (Rec/Odub, Play/Stop, and Undo) while in Pedalboard Mode. The looper in the HD500 is quite good, it just needs some more software support to take it to the next level and make it excellent for live performance.)

2) Mute my Path A signal (I use for vocals) when I Record a loop, so that I only loop one channel (guitar) and not guitar + vocal. If Line6 would provide us with elegant way to do that (without using up an FX block, such as the ability to Loop on only Path A or B, or to be able to move the Looper beyond just Pre of Post, then this wouldn't be a hurdle.

And, if you want the LED to light to show you the status, be sure to also assign the same switch to an FX block that doesn't effect your signal (put it on path B if not used, or use a noise gate turned off).

Well, sadly, I have given up on using the looper function in the HD500. It is just too limited, and seems like an afterthought. Its OK to play around with, but I don't find it usable for a serious live-performance looper. Having to toggle back and forth between looping mode is a huge barrier to live looping.

I've gone back to using my Boomerang III for looping. It would have been nice to have everything (looping and effects and modeling, etc) in one Line 6 unit, but alas.....

Greetings !! i find all this very useful, my problem is quite simple, i follow all this process.

silverhead wrote:

The Looper operates on simple start/stop signals from the footswitches. It has no sense of tempo, bars, or any musical structure.

You engage Looper mode by pressing the Looper footswitch. Start playing a chord progression (it is not yet being recorded). When the chord progression you want to record 'comes around' to the start of the progression, hit the REC/OVRERDUB footswitch on the start beat of the progression. The looper, of course, knows nothing about the start of a beat - it simpy starts recording. When you hit the end of the chord progression, hit the REC/OVRERDUB switch, or the PLAY/STOP switch. In both cases the recorded piece will immediately start playing back. If you want to immediately overdub a new part onto the first part you would hit the REC/OVERDUB switch. If you just want the playback without recording what you are going to play next, hit the PLAY/STOP switch. Anytime you want to overdub, hit the REC/OVRERDUB switch while the loop is playing back. If/when you hit the REC/OVRERDUB switch while the loop is NOT playing back, then you start a new loop recording.

The recorded 'loop' will be saved in the HD500 memory until you replace it with a new recording, engage the tuner, or turn off the HD500.

That's the basic operation. You can adjust the recording time from 24 seconds (default) to 48 seconds by hitting the 1/2 SPEED footswitch.

With the Looper in PRE position, it records the dry (unprocessed) signal from the input. With the Looper in POST position, it records the processed signal. On playback, the recorded loop is either processed by the current preset (if it was recorded in PRE mode) or not (if it was recorded in POST mode. The former (PRE mode) is often used to test out and tweak different sounds/presets on a dry recording. In this case you are auditioning sounds without having to play the part again. The latter (POST mode) is often used to overdub or play new sounds on top of pre-recorded processed sounds. This is how you would be using it to play a lead solo over the chord progression.

So, to do what you want:

- select the preset for the backing chords

- engage the Looper. Put it in POST mode. Select Full/Half speed depending on the duration of your chord progression

- start playing your chord progression. When you are comfortable with the flow of it, hit the REC/OCERDUB switch at the start of the beat/progression

- hit the PLAY/STOP switch at the end of the progression

Now the recorded loop begins playback. If you want to change presets to play the lead solo, hit the Looper switch again to disengage it. Select your new preset. While you are doing this the recorded loop continues playback. Now:

- simply play/practice your lead solo over the loop. If you don't want to record the solo - you're done.

If/when you want to record your solo on top of the loop:

- hit the Looper switch to re-engage the Looper

- while the loop is playing, hit the REC/OVERDUB switch at the beginning of the loop and play your solo.

- hit the PLAY/STOP switch when finished.

The two-part loop will begin playback. Continue to play/overdub parts as you wish. Note that if the loop was not in playback mode when you hit the REC/OVERDUB switch, the previous recording will be replaced by a new one.

and after recording a chord progression with a clean tone, and hit the looper to desingage, look on my presets and find a nice lead solo preset to jam with, as i hit the selected lead/solo preset, the chord progression will change from clean nice to solo lead; i might havr to look more into it, but if any of you guys can direct me to a solution fo this matter it'll be very apreciated !!